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Saturday, April 1, 2000

Early voting begins for primary runoffs

All registered voters are eligible to cast ballots; turnout is hard to predict, officials say

By Guy H. Lawrence
Caller-Times

Nueces County runoff elections DEMOCRAT 214th District Judge   Jose Longoria   Mark Skurka Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1   Joe A. Gonzalez   Ray Madrigal Constable Precinct 1   Robert "Bobby" Balderas   Rudy Caceres REPUBLICAN Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1   Willie J. Blalock   Tish Walker

Nueces County voters have some unfinished business that begins today with the start of early voting for the April 11 runoff election.
   In Nueces County, voters will choose the Democratic nominees for the 214th District Court judge, constable Precinct 1 and both party's nomination for justice of the peace, Precinct 1, Place 1.
   Early voting lasts through Friday.
   Anyone who did not vote in the March 14 primary can vote in either party's runoff election. A voter who participated in a party primary, can only vote in that party's runoff.
   County and party officials say the turnout for the runoff is hard to predict. The runoff has only one local countywide race, for the Democratic nominee for judge of the 214th District Court.
   "I don't have a handle on it whatsoever," said Nueces County Republican Primary administrator Joel Yowell. "I would say 2,500 maybe. That is just a guess."
   The runoff candidates likely will attract the same voters who supported them in the primary, with a few new voters, Yowell said. Generally runoff turnout estimates are based on 35 percent of the regular primary turnout, which for the Republicans was about 12,000, Yowell said.
   That primary turnout was below expectations for a ballot that featured Gov. George W. Bush on the presidential ticket and Republican candidates for statewide races. But on March 14, Mother Nature dumped 3.66 inches of rain on Corpus Christi, discouraging potential voters. Some of those lost voters may come back for the runoff.
   "We will get a better handle on it when we get to next Friday," Yowell said.
   Nueces County Democratic Party Chair Lauro Cuellar said he sees little activity in the runoff election, even though there are three Democratic races on the ballot. He cites two reasons: none of the elections involve Robstown, which usually has a high voter turnout, and the financial controversy in the Corpus Christi Independent School District.
   "All I have been hearing is the CCISD issue, when in reality we ought to be talking about the runoff election," Cuellar said.
   The winner in the Democratic primary for 214th District Court judge between Mark Skurka and Jose Longoria will face Republican nominee Doug Norman in the November general election. The Democratic winner in the Precinct 1 constable race between Robert "Bobby" Balderas and Rudy Caceres will face Republican nominee Jim Masur.
   In the Precinct 1, Place 1 justice of the peace race both the Democratic and Republican nominees have yet to be determined. Willie J. Blalock and Tish Walker face-off in the Republican runoff and Joe A. Gonzalez and Ray Madrigalare vying for the Democratic nomination.
  

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Staff writer Guy H. Lawrence can be reached at 886-3792 or by e-mail at lawrenceg@caller.com

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